Decision-making time

NOW THAT the euphoria of the Philippines’ silver medal in the Fiba Asia basketball tournament has settled down, the difficult task of deciding what kind of team the country will field in the World Basketball Championships in Spain next year is upon the leadership of the sport.

Other countries seemed to have already found a way to keep its national teams intact while allowing players to keep their competitive juices flowing in pro or semi-pro tournaments.  We haven’t quite found the formula yet simply because there are so many stakeholders that have to be consulted and to a large extent, appeased.

It seems logical and prudent that the players who won the ticket in the Asian tournament get an opportunity to play in Spain.  However, the world championships must be viewed realistically. The team will be there to test itself against the world’s best while reminding the basketball world that the Philippines is back at the top of Asian hoops. Tweaks and changes may be in the offing especially in terms of fortifying our frontline.

How the PBA will share its players to the national cause while maintaining a competitive league will be again put to an interesting test.  There’s no question that the best players are in the PBA and that their regular conferences keep players sharp and battle-ready. However, it’s not just the international games that will take players away from the pro league but the training of the national team as well. Next year, the world championships are scheduled Aug. 30 to Sept. 14 in Spain next year while the Incheon Asian Games are slated Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.

The league has done its share but recent developments will again ask it to review its participation in upcoming international tournaments and how it will adjust its own schedule. The PBA has regularly supported Philippine teams to Asian level competitions beginning in 1990 when the late league commissioner Rudy Salud allowed PBA players to the Beijing Asian Games because he felt the Asiad was the Olympics of Asia.  Subsequent commissioners have adhered to that principle and PBA players have played in Asian-wide games over the last two decades.

No matter how the Philippines fares, it seems logical that the world games will be a great tuneup for the Asian Games.  All the decision-making may come down to answering the question: Does the Philippines want to make a serious run at the Asian Games gold using the World Championship as preparation?

This could be the best time to make a bid for the Asian Games gold with China in transition and Korea now looking beatable when we prepare well for them.  Iran could be a problem again but a full Philippine crew could give the Fiba Asian champions something to think about.

We live in interesting times and the basketball decisions that will be made will be just as engaging.